Edible pet container

ABSTRACT

A feeding system providing a pet container holding a frozen or liquid pet food. The feeding system includes a pet container having a bottom section and a wall extending from a perimeter of the bottom section to a top section. The bottom section and wall form an interior holding pet food which may be a liquid or frozen substance. The top section is open to allow access to the interior. The bottom section and wall are constructed of an edible material preventing a liquid substance or a frozen substance from passing through the pet container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to pet feeding systems. Specifically, and not byway of limitation, the present invention relates to an edible petcontainer holding pet food within the container.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are millions of pet owners across the nation caring and feedingfor various types of animals. Obviously, one of the most importantduties of a pet owner is the feeding of the pet. There are a widevariety of foods available for pets. In addition, there are existingedible food containers which are capable of holding dried pet food. Butthere are no containers capable of holding a pet food having a liquid orfrozen consistency. Pet foods are now available which provide foods inthe liquid and frozen state. It would be advantageous to have acontainer capable of holding a liquid or frozen food without leaking thefood from the container.

Although there are no known prior art teachings of a solution to theaforementioned deficiency and shortcoming such as that disclosed herein,a prior art reference that discusses subject matter that bears somerelation to matters discussed herein is U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,710 toGeitner (Geitner). Geitner discloses an animal feeding system having abowl constructed of an edible material carrying dry animal food.Although Geitner discloses constructing the bowl out of an ediblematerial, the container is not capable of holding a liquid or frozenmaterial without leaking the contents from the bowl.

Thus, it would be a distinct advantage to have an edible container whichis capable of securing holding frozen or liquid contents. It is anobject of the present invention to provide such an apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is a pet container for holding petfood. The pet container has a bottom section and a wall extending from aperimeter of the bottom section to a top section. The bottom section andwall form an interior for holding and storing the pet food. The topsection is opened to allow access to the interior and the pet food. Thebottom section and wall are constructed of an edible material preventinga liquid substance from passing through the pet container. The pet foodis then held in the interior of the container.

In another aspect, the present invention is a feeding system providing apet container holding a frozen or liquid pet food. The feeding systemincludes a pet container having a bottom section and a wall extendingfrom a perimeter of the bottom section to a top section. The bottomsection and wall form an interior holding pet food which may be a liquidor frozen substance. The top section is open to allow access to theinterior. The bottom section and wall are constructed of an ediblematerial preventing a liquid substance or a frozen substance frompassing through the pet container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects andadvantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art byreference to the following drawings, in conjunction with theaccompanying specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a pet container in the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the pet container of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional side view of the pet containerholding pet food in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An edible pet container is disclosed. FIG. 1 is a top view of a petcontainer 10 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG.2 is a bottom view of the pet container 10 of FIG. 1. The pet containerincludes walls 12 and a bottom portion 14. The walls have anapproximately uniform height X and originate from the bottom portion ofthe pet container to a rim 16 located at a top section 18 of the petcontainer. The walls and bottom portion form the boundaries of aninterior area 20 for storing the pet food. The top section 18 is open toallow access to the contents of the pet container by the pet. The petcontainer may be in any shape or size. As illustrated, the pet containeris in the shape of a bone. In an alternate embodiment, the pet containeris bowl-shaped. In addition, the bottom surface 22 of the bottom portionof the container may include a logo or name brand 24 engraved to thesurface.

The walls 12 and the bottom portion 14 of the pet container are edibleand capable of holding a liquid or a frozen product, such as an icecream type treat. Although not limited to the follow ingredients, in thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the walls and bottomportion may include various starches such as corn starches, wheatstarches, potato starches, rice starches, or tapioca starches.Additionally, the walls and bottom portion include starches such ashigh-amylose starches, modified starches, waxy starches, dent starches,or native starches. A plastising agent may be utilized from thefollowing group: glycerin, propylene glycol, corn syrups, sorbitol, andother various sugars. Preservative systems may be included such aspotassium sorbate and sorbic acid. The walls and bottom portion mayinclude macro minerals from the following group: sodium, calciumcarbonate, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, and chloride. Inaddition, trace elements may be used such as iron, zinc, iodine,selenium, copper, manganese, fluoride, chromium, molybdenum, and iodine.Non-essential trace minerals may include boron, silicon, and vanadium.Fibers which may be utilized include cellulose fibers and vegetablefibers. Other ingredients may include anti-oxidants, nutriceuticals,vitamins, suggested aids for cartilage development (glucosamine,condroitin, etc.), emulsifiers (used as processing agents), andphytonutrients.

To add to the taste of the walls, vegetables (e.g., peas, carrots,potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, celery, cucumber, broccoli,spinach), both dried and fresh may be included as ingredients to thewalls and bottom portion of the pet container. Additionally, othernatural and artificial coloring systems and flavors may be added.

The walls 12 and bottom portion 14 are preferably utilized as an ediblechew providing extending chewing for the pet. In the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the walls and bottom portioninclude ridges 30 (FIG. 3) or other surface irregularities which providean abrasive quality to the wall to assist in cleaning the pet's teeth aswell as freshening the breath of the pet.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional side view of the pet container 10holding pet food 40 in the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The pet food may be any product. However, in the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the pet food is a substance, unlikedried pet food, which normally is not contained in a conventional petcontainer. Rather, the pet container is capable of holding fluids (e.g.,gravy), frozen products (e.g., frozen treats such as ice cream type orfrozen liquids), or other soft products (e.g., pudding or yogurt). Thewalls and bottom portion are constructed of a material which preventsthe pet food from leaking through the material.

The pet food 40 may be sold and stored within the pet container 10 orsold separately. For example, a liquid may be utilized which is pouredwithin the interior portion 14 of the pet container when ready to serveto the pet. The pet food may also be poured into the pet container andthen frozen for use at a later time. In addition, it should beunderstood that the pet container may hold a liquid having a semi-solidconsistency, such as a paste, gravy, yogurt, or ice cream.

The present invention provides many advantages over existing products.The present invention provides a pet container capable of holdingliquids, soft food products and frozen food products. The pet containermay be frozen to provide a frozen treat for a pet. In addition, thewalls and bottom portion are edible. The pet container may be utilizedas a pet chew and assist in the cleaning of the pet's teeth andfreshening of the breath of the pet.

While the present invention is described herein with reference toillustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those havingordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided hereinwill recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodimentswithin the scope thereof and additional fields in which the presentinvention would be of significant utility.

Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference toa particular embodiment for a particular application. Those havingordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings willrecognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments withinthe scope thereof.

It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and allsuch applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of thepresent invention.

1. A pet container for holding pet food, the pet container comprising: abottom section and a wall extending from a perimeter of the bottomsection to a top section; the bottom section and wall forming aninterior for holding and storing the pet food; the top section beingopen to allow access to the interior and the pet food; and the bottomsection and wall being constructed of an edible material preventing aliquid substance from passing through the pet container; whereby petfood is held in the interior of the container.
 2. The pet container forholding pet food of claim 1 wherein the pet food is a liquid substance.3. The pet container for holding pet food of claim 1 wherein the petfood is a frozen substance.
 4. The pet container for holding pet food ofclaim 1 wherein the wall includes a plurality of irregularities, theirregularities providing an abrasive quality for cleaning teeth of thepet eating the pet container.
 5. The pet container for holding pet foodof claim 1 wherein the wall and bottom section are a chew materialallowing the pet to chew the chew material for an extended time period.6. The pet container for holding pet food of claim 1 wherein theperimeter of the pet container is bone-shaped.
 7. A feeding systemhaving a pet container holding pet food, the feeding system comprising:a pet container having: a bottom section and a wall extending from aperimeter of the bottom section to a top section; the bottom section andwall forming an interior; the top section being open to allow access tothe interior; and the bottom section and wall being constructed of anedible material preventing a liquid substance from passing through thepet container; and pet food stored in the interior.
 8. The feedingsystem of claim 7 wherein: the pet food is a liquid substance; and thepet container and pet food is frozen prior to serving to the pet.
 9. Thefeeding system of claim 7 wherein the pet food is a frozen treat. 10.The feeding system of claim 7 wherein the pet food is a puddingsubstance.
 11. The feeding system of claim 7 wherein the pet food is aliquid substance.
 12. The feeding system of claim 7 wherein the wallincludes a plurality of irregularities, the irregularities providing anabrasive quality for cleaning teeth of the pet eating the pet container.13. The feeding system of claim 7 wherein the wall and bottom sectionare a chew material allowing the pet to chew the material for anextended time period.
 14. The feeding system of claim 7 wherein theperimeter of the pet container is bone-shaped.
 15. The feeding system ofclaim 7 wherein the pet food is a liquid substance that has a semi-solidconsistency.
 16. A feeding system having a pet container holding petfood, the feeding system comprising: a pet container having: a bottomsection and a wall extending from a perimeter of the bottom section to atop section; the bottom section and wall forming an interior; the topsection being open to allow access to the interior; and the bottomsection and wall being constructed of an edible material preventing aliquid substance or a frozen substance from passing through the petcontainer; and frozen pet food stored in the interior.